San Francisco 49ers fall to fifth in AP NFL power rankings

The 49ers took a tumble in the Associated Press Pro32 NFL Power Rankings after their 16-13 overtime loss to the St. Louis Rams, a game in which the 49ers appeared to be outcoached when they had the ball.

After receiving three first-place votes a week earlier, the 49ers received none and fell three spots to fifth in the poll, released Tuesday.

The New England Patriots received three first-place votes and moved up two spots into a second-place tie with the Atlanta Falcons, who got the other first-place vote.

The Denver Broncos were No. 4.

Some 49ers offensive players were quoted after the loss Sunday in St. Louis as saying the Rams defense seemed to know what was coming.

Late in the game, 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and coach Jim Harbaugh also reverted to the cautious play-calling they employed last season. Struggling kicker David Akers hasn't been able to ride to the rescue quite the way he did in 2011.

Nowhere was the 49ers' conservative approach more questionable than after they took over at midfield with 7:29 remaining in overtime. They called runs on four of their first five plays, all coming on first and second down and gaining a total of 10 yards. The 49ers attempted two short passes, completing one for a first down and misfiring on the second before Akers missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt.

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It seemed an odd approach given that a) Akers had missed three of four kicks from beyond 50 yards this season; b) he has been working through an injury; and c) the Rams had stifled the 49ers running game.

What's more, Harbaugh made the switch to quarterback Colin Kaepernick ostensibly to perk up a passing game that ranked 28th when Alex Smith made his last start Nov. 11. With the game in the balance Sunday, Harbaugh and Roman all but took the ball out of Kaepernick's hands.

Here are the voters' comments on the 49ers after Week 13, as provided by the AP (voter affiliation and ranking in parentheses):

Chris Berman (ESPN, 4) -- Kaepernick was bound to be human.

Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 2) -- The quarterback saga will make their stretch run interesting.

Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 5) -- Comment unavailable

Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 6) -- Very curious to see if the QB situation becomes a problem for this team down the stretch.

Bob Glauber (Newsday, 5) -- Colin Kaepernick looked like a championship quarterback when he first filled in for Alex Smith. Now he's looking like an uncertain second-year quarterback going through the usual NFL growing pains. Jim Harbaugh gives him another week as the starter, though, hoping Kaepernick has better luck against the Dolphins at home.

Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 5) -- The 49ers are 0-1-1 against the lowly Rams and 8-2 against everyone else.

Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 5) -- Jim Harbaugh just announced he'll start the next game at quarterback.

Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 6) -- The Kaepernick experiment continues, and as I said last week there is risk involved. Flashing great skills is one thing, winning tough games is another story.

John Lynch (Fox Sports, 5) -- A bold move by Harbaugh to stick with Kaepernick at QB backfired against the Rams.

Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 5) -- What is it with the St. Louis Rams? The 49ers are 0-1-1 against that mediocre franchise and 8-2 versus the rest of the league.